Safety-parachute for aviators.



K. P. TOGSTAD.

SAFETY PARACHUTE FOR AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. i911 mist 449 Patented May 22,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET K y 62am).

K. P. TOGSTAD.

SAFETY PARACHUTE FOR AVIATORS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21,191]. 1,227,344.

Patented May 22, 1917.

2 SHEET$-;SHEET 2.

' parts KAJ'A P. TOGSTAD, OF MADDOC IK, NORTH DAKOTA.

'SAFETY-PARACHUTE FOR AVIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1917.

Application filed February 21. 1917. Serial No. 150,105.

To 11/! ulmm if vmay cmi cm:

3e it known that I. l\'.\.i.\ l 'loos'rwn, a citizen of the I'nited States. residingat Haddock. in the count v ot' Benson and State of North Dakota. have invented new and useful Improvements in Satetvdarachutes for Aviators. of which the following is a specification.

'lhisinvention relates to a safety para chut'e t'or aviators. the object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which may be worn upon the person of the aviator. and which will normally be in a collapsed or inoperative position. but is adapted to open and spread automatically in the event of the aviator falling or jumping from the machine. to check the speed of descent and bring the aviator to a safe landing.

further object of the invention is to provide a device otthis character which is simple of construction. reliable and etlicient in action. and which will be at all times ready for use when th aviator occupies his seat upon the machine.

. \Yith these and other objects in view. the invention consists of the features of construction. combination and arrangement of hereinafter fully described and claimed. re't'erence being had to the ac ompanyingdrawings in which:'

Figure 1 is a sectional side view showing the device as normally worn by the aviator when not occupying his seat in the machine.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the. device as arranged and worn by the aviator when seated.

Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the device in use for. a supporting action.

Fig. -l is a vertical longitudinal section through the stall sections and belt with parts in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 52.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the same parts in the position shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the lashing.

Tn carrying my invention into practice, I provide a belt 1 adapted to surround the, body of the aviator andto be secured in position by suitable straps and buckles 2. This belt serves as a support and attaching means for the parachute, which comprises a collapsible parachute body 3 carried by a pair of dividcdstafi' sections 4 and 5. The

bod v 3 is mounted directly upon the statf section t and is preferably of the ordinary umbrella type. being 'n-ovided with suitable ribs and stretchers forming a frame having a fabric covering. and which is adapted to open and close in the same manner as an ordinary umbrella.

The two stati sections 4 and 5 are hingedly or pivotall v united. as shown at 6, for folding and unfolding actions, as hereinat'ter, described. and the shaft section 4 is provided at its pivoted end with an arm or projection T pivotally coupled to the upper end of a sliding bar or rod 8 movable longitudinally within and through the staff section 5.

The statl' section 5 is hollow and is designed to normallv stand in a substantially vertical position with its lower end disposed in proximity to the upper rear portion of the belt I. and the rod 8 is provided with a latch .l to engage a keeper eye or loop to on said belt, whereb v the staff member 5 may be supported in such positiom The lower end of the rod or bar 8 terminates in an eye 11 which engages an eye 12 upon the belt 1 at a point below the keeper member 10. whereb v the stafl section 5 swiveled to the belt. to adapt the belt. un der certain conditions. to have free swinging motion thereon.

Mounted upon the rod or bar 8 within the hollow stall section 5 is a sliding head or abutment member 13. and inclosed within said hollow stati' section and encompassing the rod or bar between said abutment member 1 and a stationary abutment member It in the hollow statl' section is a coiled spring 1H. which is tixedly connected with the alnltments 13 and It and is adapted to exert its contractile energv to draw the rod or bar 8 downward within the staff section 5 and thus through a pulling action upon the arm T. to swing the staff section 4 and parachute body to an upright position.

By referen e to Figs. 1 and .2 it will be seen that when theparm-hute is folded the staff 4 and parachute body are swung downwartLly and rearwardlv at an anglcto a position behind the stat? section which is normally maintained in an upright position against pivotal movements on the swivel connections 11 and 12 by engagement of the latch 9 with the keeper 10. When the stat? section 4 is swung downwardly to a folded position the arm 7 draws the rod or bar 8 upwardly to move and retain the'latch 9 in engagement with the keeper 10 against the resistance of the spring 16, which is thereby expanded and put under tension, so that as long as the staff 4 remains in a folded position the staff will be supported in an up- I right position and against pivotal motion.

.vicewithout liability'of the parachute foe-,-

ing thrown into action, the lashing holding the paraclmtehody against upward movemeat.

' brought to When, however,.the lashing is removed,

and the parachute body and staff -l are-free v for swmglng movement, it'will be evident that the-spring 16 will be free to contract, thus swinging the staff section :1: to an up: right position in alinement with the staff section 5, and simultaneously depressing the rod or bar 8 so as to release the latch 9 from engagement with the keeper 10s The parachute will then be free to fill and spread and the staff section 5 to have universal motion upon the belt, so that in the event that the aviator should fall or jump (Tut ofthe machine he will be suspended in a horizontal position from the staff sections and the parachute'hody will open andarrcst the speed of descent and bring the aviator to a safe landing. The operation of the device in this connection is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the se of the device the aviator applies it to his person in the manner shown and the swinging staff sectiop is held down by means of the lashing, allowing the aviator to walk about while the parachute is maintained in a supported and collapsed position.

After the aviator assumes his position in the seat 18 he releases the lashing 17' so that the staff 4 will he free for operation but will be bear against the seat back 19 will he held from action unless movcsout of the seat. Thus if the aviator should fall or be thrown out of his seat or should jump from the machine the parachute will be immediatelythrown whereby it the aviator into action. in an obvious manner to insure a safe descent. v

From the foregoing, description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and modelof use of my improved safety arachute will be readily understood, and 1t will'be seen that the device of this character is provided which may be worn without discomfort and which when set for action will always be in readiness for immediate use.

1. A safety parachute attachment for aviators comprising a belt adapted to be socured'to the person of the aviator, a staff section swiveled to the belt, a second staff section pivotally connected with the first-- named staff section, a paraclmte body car ried by the second staff section, means for normally connecting the first-named staff section with the belt'to hold said staff scctlon in an erect position, and means for belt, and a spring upon the rod for rclcas-' ing the latch and swinging the secondnamcd staff section and paraclmte to an operative position.

3. A safety parachute attachment for aviators comprising a belt adapted to be worn by the aviator. a keeper member upon said belt, a lower staff section, an upper stafl scction pivotally mounted upon the lower staff section, a arachute body carried thereby, a rod slidab y mounted in thcflojf'cr stall section and pivotally connected to the upper staff section, a pivotal connection between said rod and the belt, a latch carried by [he rod to engage the keeper on the belt to hold the lower staff member in an upright position, and a Springmctlng upon the rod for moving the same to release said latch member and swing the upper staff member and parachute body to an upright operative position. 7

ln testimony whereof I a [fix my signature.

KAJA P. TOGSTAD. 

